THE NRL has snared the sharpest operator in Australian sport, V8 Supercars supremo Tony Cochrane, to help sell sponsorship as the code battles yet another public relations disaster.

We've learned that Cochrane's company, Sports & Entertainment Limited, is about to be engaged to attract sponsors for naming rights opportunities in the Four Nations tournament, Kangaroos sleeve sponsorship and next year's All Stars game.

If anyone can move space in the post-salary cap scandal climate it's Cochrane. He's the former music promoter who convinced Frank Sinatra to return Down Under, masterminded last year's incredibly successful "Rock 'n' Race" Sydney 500 and has built the V8s into Australia's fastest-growing sport that now sponsors the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

NRL marketing boss Paul Kind told Sport Confidential a deal with SEL was close to being struck.

"We're looking at employing SEL as a buying agent for advertisers," Kind said. "They've got a stake in V8s and Tony [Cochrane] is quite involved there.

"We've still got some sponsorships available on some major properties for next year."

REMEMBER Sarah Ferguson? Matty Johns and the NRL certainly do, because she was the Four Corners journalist who rocked the game a year ago with her Walkley Award-winningCode of Silence investigation.

Well, we can reveal that Ferguson and her team of sleuths are now back on the NRL beat and this time their sights are set on the game's salary cap crisis. Her first stop: the Gold Coast Titans.

Our spies on the holiday strip claim Ferguson last week interviewed Alex Simpson, the builder who alleged Scott Prince had agreed to a new house to extend his contract.

The NRL might have green-lighted the Titans for now, but Four Corners believes there are still more questions than answers left. THE NRL is finally set to claw back its draconian restrictions on clubs funding travel for relatives to landmark games.

Following a public backlash over its insistence that Parramatta and St George Illawarra were capped the cost of airfares and accommodation for recent cases involving Fuifui Moimoi and Luke Priddis respectively, the NRL is now willing to have the issue debated at next Tuesday's CEOs meeting.

After clashing with the NRL over arrangements for Priddis's 300th game two weeks ago, Dragons boss Peter Doust said there was now a chance relative travel exemptions will be widened beyond a player's debut. "I've spoken to David [Gallop] about this issue and he indicated that it's something he'd be willing to put on the agenda for the next CEOs meeting [May 4]," Doust said.

"We said all along that we couldn't understand the NRL's stance, given it was such a milestone for Luke."

Should all 16 clubs vote to relax the rule it's possible the NRL will revert to the AFL's model of granting exemptions for every 50th game, starting from a players' 100th appearance.

SOUTHS giant Sam Burgess still has a thing or two to learn about the NRL, according to his teammates.

The man-mountain was the architect of a club tipping competition which was entered by all players and staff at a cost of $50 each. And so far big Sam's tipping prowess has left a lot to be desired.

"He's coming last," said a Rabbitoh spokesman.

"Seriously, he must think the New Zealand Warriors are the Wigan Warriors because he keeps on tipping them. He obviously missed out on a lot of NRL last year when the cable channel that covers it in the UK went under."

A FORMER NRL player now playing in the English Super League might be feeling a bit lonely after his girlfriend packed her bags and returned to Australia. We are told the woman in question suspected her long-time partner of cheating.

THE Central Coast Bears got a boost in their bid for NRL inclusion after a 300-strong red and black army stormed the round 5 Rabbitohs-Knights match in Gosford .

But don't expect them to be back when Manly host Wests Tigers at Bluetongue Stadium in July. Bears boss Greg Florimo said unrepentant tensions from the bitter Northern Eagles split would keep fans at home.

"I'd say we'll probably give that game a miss - things are a little bit close to the bone with Manly," he said.

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